Borrowing from Super Mario Bros., Doki Doki Panic has a star item that gives your character temporary invincibility. DDP's version of the Starman appears when you collect five cherries, floating upward in a zig-zag motion. DDP's POW Block item, which first appeared in Mario Bros., destroys every enemy on screen.

Doki Doki Panic was remade as Super Mario Bros. 2 for a US release by Nintendo. During this transition, the four main characters were replaced by Mario, Luigi, Princess Toadstool, and Toad, while most enemies, music, and levels were not changed.